The Portland daily press., 1887-06-18
THE CONTROVERSY.
Prof. smyth Removed by the Board
OF Visitors.
Mr.. smyth Says the End of the Mat
ter Is Not Yet.
The Trustees Said to Support the
the Professors.

ANDovER, Mass, June 1.-THE board Of
visitors of the Andover Theological Sem
mary voted today to dispense with the SER
vices Of Prof. E. G. Smyth and Professor
Woodruff as the outcome of the recent trial.
LAWRENCE, June 17.-Professor Smyth,
looking as genial as ever. was seen at his
residence by an Associated Press reporter
and said he would be pleased to 90 over the
whole affair, but thought 1t hardly fitting at
this time. But he desired to say this was by
no means the end Of the matter. He did
not appear much worried by the news of the
action. Professors Tucker and Hincks
could not be found, but Prof. George Harris
was ready and willing to talk. "The outcome
Of today" said he, 'by no means closes the
institution. True enough Professor Smyth
is deposed by the board Of visitors, but the
case Will surely be carried to the Supreme
Court, and meanwhile he will stay just
where he is and the rest Of the faculty pro-
pose to stay with him whatever the issue
may be. We shall open next September as
usual and Professor Smyth will be with us.
But since the Office is declared vacant sue
cess0r to the Professor Is to be elected, what
then? There will be no such election. The
board Of trustees control absolutely the
election. With them we are in perfect har-
mony. They will soon issue report vindi-
eating us in the matter. Yes, the findings
will show the manifest injustice in
The subterfuge Of Mr.. Eustis in .refraining
from voting not only indicates his object,
but helps our cause. We are not at all dis
satisfied with the findings. We don't intend
ceedings Of the board have been secret it is
supposed that President Seelye was in favor
Of acquittal. This is, in fact, almost abso-
lutely known. The board of trustees now
In session will undoubtedly issue report
vindicating Smythe and Woodruff"
The following ic the depison.
AT a meeting of the visitors of the theol0-
glcal institution in Phillips Academy in An
dover held June 4, 1887, on the complaint as
amended against Egbert G. Smyth, ID. ID.
Brown, professor of ecclesiastical history in
said institution, the answer thereto: The
evidence laid before them and the arguments
in behalf of the complaints and respondent
were further considered by the visitors and
they find that said Egbert G. Smyth as such
professor maintains and inculcates beliefs
the creed Of said institution; the
statutes of the same, and contrary
to the true interest of the founders
thereof, as expressed in said statutes in the
following particulars as charged in said
amended complaint to wit: That the Bible is
not ''the only perfect rule of faith and prac-
tice," but is fallible and untrustworthy, even
in some of its religious teachings; that no
man has power or capacity to re-
Pent without lSa knowledge Od Of God in in
probation after death for all men who do not
decisively reject Christ during the earthly
life; and thereupon they do adjudge and de-
cree that said Egbert G. Smyth be, and he
hereby is removed from the Office of Brown
Professor of Ecclesiastical History in said
institution, and said office is hereby declared
vacant.
Voted, That the secretary notify said Egbert c.
Smyth, the complainant, and the trustees OF the
Phillips Academy ot the foregoing findings and
action thereon by the visitors.
At the same meeting it was decided that
the charges against the following associate
professors were not sustained: William j.
Tucker Bartlett Professor of Sacred Rhet-
oric; John w. Churchill, Jones Professor of
Elocution; George Harris, Abbott Profess
sor of Christian Theology and Edward Y.
Hincks, Smith Professor of Biblical Theolo-
gy, severally in said institution. Rev. Mr..
ciates upon the ground that he was not pres
ent on the day of the hearing in
said complaint, when said respon-
dents severally appeared and made
their statements in defence thereto.
The trustees regret that the changes against
the Professors were not first brought before
them and carried to the visitors on appeal, II
at all. They say: "The question at issue is
not whether the views and teachings Of the
Professors are contrary to the great historic
ereeds Of the church, nor whether they are
contrary to the creeds of the churches in
Eastern Massachusetts, when the seminary
was established, nor whether they are con-
trary to any Of the known views of the
founders. but whether they are contrary to
the views which the founders embodied in
the creed that they prescribed as the test,
the doctrinal soundEess of all who should
occupy chairs Of instructions in the SEM
inarY,